Day 27 of The {31} Purge and anyone who knows the Philbrick family...knows that...we are all big bowling fans...ten pin...BIG BALLS...that is! Some of us are even fanatical about it {you know who you are...Debbie, Cortney and Wesley ;} It all started with my parents...in particular my Dad...when he was in the Army and he played on several leagues. He was good enough to be a pro and at one point, he represented the Army league when we were stationed in Taiwan. Dad is the third man...the one in the middle...in the back row...darn he looks so young ;}
Hence why I also have a shrine in my closet...honoring my memories of being on my first bowling league in Taiwan as well...ahhh!
Bowling has always been something that we all enjoyed whenever we got together as a family. In fact, here's a photo of all of us the last time that we got together that my Dad was alive. Everyone was visiting us here in NC for my niece, Corney's high school graduation. It is only appropriate that we all posed for a group shot at the bowling alley...it's a little fuzzy...but the memories are as clear as the day we were all together!
You would think that I had my own bowling alley with the number of balls that I had stowed away!
So out of the five balls in storage...the little red 8-pounder...which use to belong to my youngest son, Timothy, was donated to the local bowling lanes. The blue 10-pounder...that was my oldest son, Mitchell's ball... and the green 14-pounder (that was too heavy for me to every use) both went to my fanatical family members ;} Debbie and Wesly will see if they can have these balls re-drilled and fitted for them to use on their Monday night bowling league.
What's left is my favorite pink, 10-pounder and Kevin's big, black 16-pounder...along with our double-ball bag {ha ;} It's a his n'hers bowling ball bag that stows well and is easy to grab for a date night.
Wow...did this day bring back a lot of fond memories of my Dad, and of my family, enjoying many bowling strings {bowling lingo for games ;}
Love having all these memories...but they do bring up a lot of emotions. Which actually end up being the biggest hurdled that you have to face...and to over-come...when it comes to purging your stuff! I am really thankful for the shrine in my closet and for the many pictures that we have of my family enjoying bowling over the years. Knowing that I have these things, is what really helps me make it through the process of purging old things that I can no longer use.
How about you...what are you holding onto that has a lot of emotions attached to it...and yet you can no longer use?
Hopefully you have a way of holding onto the memories like I have been able to so that you can release the excess baggage. "C'est la vie"...balls to the walls baby!
Fondly, Roberta
I haven't bowled in years...come to think of it I have a pink bowling ball somewhere...but I do know where my nice new bowling shoes are that I bought about 15 yrs ago are...Why I still have them who knows...(attachment issues)
Posted by: Denyse@Crazy Beautiful Life | November 20, 2011 at 10:42 PM